PROJECT BLUE BOOK

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

| 1. DATE 2. LOCATION
2 Aug kf 56 Amarillo, Texas
| 3. DATE-TIME GROUP — |4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION ~— a.
Local 0400 xR Ground- Vi sual 0 Ground-Redar
cmt _02/10002, ~ 0 Air Vi sual 0 Air-Intercept Radar

‘5. PHOTOS $6. SOURCE

2 Yes

civilian
0 No i

7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION

0

8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS

on=

=

9. COURSE

n/a

— OF Ee

12. CONCLUSIONS

Wes Balloon
Probably Balloon
Possibly Balloon

Was Aircraft
Probobly Aircroft
Possibly Aircroft

o00 000 ooo

Was Astronomical
Probably Astronomical
Possibly Astronomical

GES iiss te

QD Insufficient Dota for Evaluation
0 Unknown

~

2 bre 15 mins ek
lo. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING

T4 -
—— =

coserved and photographed.

en wre er ee =

ATIC FORM 329 (REV 265 SEP $2)

Pires Amardas Me Drees! | h ob | flag Sa

aopearing as a cloud formation

———

11. COMMENTS
| Extenuating circumstances. No reference

point in photo.

Suspected hoax.

( (

oi-d3/maj tacker/am/72291

16 May 1960

Dear Mr. SD

This is to acknowledge your letter of 17 March and the questions
concerning unidentified flying objects.

It must be assumed that the mich publicized Washington radar sighting
of 19 July 1952, is the one in questions. This case waa determindd to be

targets caused by a temperature invefsion.

There is no record in the Air Force files of a sighting at Kinross
AFB on 23 November 1953. The Kinross case, as outlined in several books
and other publications on UFO's, states that an aircraft was carried
away by an tinidentified flying object. There is no case in the files
_ Which even closely paralleis these circumstances.

The objects on the film taken et Tremonton, Utah on 2 July 1952,
were determined to be birds, probably sea gulls.

The Air Force file carries no conclusion on the photograph taken by
Mr. QQMpeMD near Amsrilio, Texas on 2 August 1956. Not knowing what
radiation vapor is, it is the Air Force opinion that some spokesman at

the time speculated that the object was an irradiated vapor trail and was

probably mis-quoted.

The Air
taken by Mr.

is not aware of any release date for the photograph
The original was in tne hands of the owner and he
was free to do with it as he pleased.

al

C Air Force experience has been that there is no increase in radiation
due to unidentified flying objects. It should be understood that the :
normal background for any area may fluctuate a few hundredths of a
milliroentgen, this is considered normal and constitutes no danger what-
soever’. WN .

The Air Force is not aware of any statement, official or otherwise,
by & government agency to the effect that UFO's are space ships.

The Air Force has no specific knowledge of infrared tracking of
unidentified flying objects.

The Air Force file contains no record of a report at Barber's Point,
Pearl Harbor on 6 August 1953, in fact, no report from Hawaii for the
entire month of August 1953.

For the most part, information concerning UFO reports is available
to the public, but due to required classification, some are not. It is
the Air Force opinion thet the best answer is contained in the question .
itself. These sightings are intelligence reports, and as such, in
certain instances contain other information apart from the UFO portion

which may require classification.

. The Air Force is open minded on the subject of space travel, and
aware that space visitors are a possibility. The preBent Air Force
position is not to deny this possibility, but rather to state that to
Gate no evidence has been discovered to substantiate thet UFO's are

interplanetary or interstellar space ships.

No liumar exploration, telescopic or space probe, has revealed any
edditional information concerning UFO's.

Sincerely,

LAWRENCE J. TACKER

Mejor, USAF

Public Information Division
Office of Information

ve ey oi-3d comeback
oi-lL reader

Dist Office No 23, OSL, 23D 2h-0-229, Subj: Unidentified Flying
Object (UFOB)

DO | lst Ind

2596th Air Reserve Flying Center, USAF, Hensley Field, Grand Prairie,
Texas 9% AUG 1956

TO: Commander, Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, Colorado

Forwarded in accordance with paragraph 7a(2)(a), Air Force Regu-
lation 200-2, 1) August 195h.

FOR THE COMMANDER:

e blake. AU Mile f

n/c lst Lt, USAF
Adjutant
Las wae)
| 47> 49 $602D AISS Classified wal
eb apiece Document Log Fre > >
b
vn
Se a Se

° .
. j ’ . al +
° b
be

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR fORCS
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL .
OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS

JWF/VFS/mk
(23 AUG 1956

District Office No. 23 - Carswell Air Ferce Base,
Fert Worth, Texes

23D 24-0-229

SUBJECT: Unidentified Flying Object (UFOB)

TO: Commander
2596th Air Reserve Flying Center
Hensley Field
Grand Prairie, Texas

1, At1330 hours, 5 August 1956, Mr.
See Dallas, Texas, Telephone, , reported
the following information to the OSI Detachment Office, Hensley
Field, Grand Prairie, Texas, concerning the sighting of unconven-

tional type aircraft:

GP advised that on 1 August 1956 as he was returning
to Dallas, Texas from Colorado Springs, Colorado, via Amarillo,
Texas, he had departed Amarillo at approximately 0400 hours on
Route US 287. He averred that approximately ten (10) miles outside
of Amarillo, he noted a bright green trajectory in the sky at about
10 o'clock, from an object which appeared to have landed just east of
Amarillo, Texas and north of Highway 287. Shortly thereafter, he
observed another trajectory, similar to the first, which emanated
from a bright light in the sky, observed approximately 30 minutes
earlier. qed: :.: ed that this light appeared in a cloud formation,
the height of which he estimated to be approximately 10, 000 to 20, 000°
feet. Further, that this cloud formation was approximately 50 miles ~
in length from north to south anda lesser distance in width running
east to west. Never did the phenomenon appear to descend below the for j L. /f
level of the cloud base and moved intermittently within the cloud for- 4. .=~-

“ “9

of the cloud running north to south. No sound was audible at any time ln =

during either the trajectory or the movement of the object itself.

’
4

A602D AISS Classified i --:i> - Gc US 0% 37

*. Documen®.L ug 4 5 dA
: a

CNN is. 2.22

Od

. : |
mation and on various occasions would move outside the extreme ends ‘a.

j

Hq 23d Dist OSI, Carswell AFB, Texas, file 24-0-229, Subject:
Unidentifiable Flying Objects (UFOB)

The phenomenon appeared to be the size of a grapefruit and appeared
in brilliance equal to the ignition of phosphorus, giving a brilliant
beam of light both above and below the phenomenon itself, but never
both beams simultaneously. At various times, a faint trace of red,
varying its position on the phenomenon, was observed. The object
appeared to be extremely navigable, inasmuch as it appeared in
various places in the cloud formation. The object was observed
intermittently by @@M@@P and his wife between Amarillo and Memphis,
Texas. QQ related that they departed Amarillo at 0400 hours and

arrived in Memphis at 0615 hours. @@Q@MP further related the second
trajectory appeared 10 to 20 feet from the first trajectory. Accord-

ing to the cloud formation was moving rapidly and upon his
arrival at Memphis, Texas, the formation had begun to disintegrate.

As daylight approached, the phenomenon appeared to be ascending into
the heavens, where it was the approximate size of a star and no longer
visible through the clouds, but visible outside the cloud formation.
During the two (2) hours and fifteen (15) minutes that the phenomenon
was observed, advised that as it moved to the open spaces within
the cloud formation, its brilliance would illuminate these portions with-
in the cloud structure. As it proceeded through the clouds to the op-

posite outer extremities, no illumination was visible within the cloud

structure. ae a World War Il Bomber Pilot, who flew B-17 type
aircrait, with the Eighth Air Force, advised that in his experience with
aircraft, weather conditions, etc, he had never observed anything com-

parable with this phenomenon.

A photograph of instant phenomenon taken vy QED with a

Kodak 620 Camera is attached as an inclosure. GED advised that
he would retain the negative of the photograph taken. Further, that

he would cooperate with the USAF authorities in any way possible,

2. The above information was furnished the Dallas Field Office,
FBI, by QQQEP on 2 August 1956.

3. This information is forwarded for your appropriate action in
accordance with paragraph 7, AFR 200-2, dated 12 August 1954.

4

] ? a ; / iz
2 Lode eras ws IF sa

wr

: . .
’ > ~.* 74
. " : J s 5 4 ™~ .
. * VS

Hq 23d Dist OSI, Carswell AFB, Texas, file 24-0-229, Subject:
Unidentifiable Flying Object (UFOB)

4. On 20 August 1956, the files of the FBI, Dallas, Texas,
were reviewed with the assistance of EDWIN KUYKENDALL, Special

Agent, FBI, and failed to reflect any record of @yyaa

5. This letter is classified CONFIDENTIAL pursuant to the
authority contained in paragraph 30c(2)(a), AFR 205-1.

1 Incl
Photograph
cc: Dir OSI
FBI, Dallas
Detco, Hensley

15 January 1957
MAMCAAGDUM FOR UFO FILES

SUBJECT: Late Receipt of UFO Reports

l. This isone of six (6) UFO reports submitted under one cover
letter by the 4602d aISS, who received them fram the OSI, Aeference
"46024 AISS File," letter dated 26 December 1956, subject: "OSI UFOB

He portsa.*
2. Received by ATIC on 3 January 1957.

3. Reports range from almost two years (February 1954) for the
oldest, to over 7 months for the newest (august 1956). It appears
that the OSI had “pigeonholed§ the reports for some unknown reeson
before submitting them to the 46024 ALSS.

ue The very latedate of receipt makes investigutions or conclusive
analysis difficult, .f not impossible. <A preliminary evaluation mds
of each and entered in UFO files,
fet es

—_—_— ee ee ee a

(
ie? &, Pe (

: Aili / Ud ® Y-
v ‘

y \y
‘iP Hg O89 i { ae

WPH4 SSTHUYA2 17FA 199XYAzZ 52 \ SYN
22 RJEDWP | ae

J= RUWFLY g52 | Te ja oe .
X 2119352 Pink= Ys : P

st CG USAARTYANDGMCEN FTSILL OKLA

TO COMDR ATIC YPAFB OHIO (

La GRNC (
522659 FROM AKPSIGT |
REFERENCE AFOIN-424-2-233-E, NO ARTILLERY FIRING WAS

“wwUCTED DURING PERIOD 2492 HOURS 31 JULY 1956 TO 3@9 HOURS

i svGUST 1955, ARTILLERY FIRING OF 195MM ILLUMINATING ROUNDS \

inS CONDUCTED FROM 1429 HOURS 31 JULY 1956 TO 2409 HOURS 34 JULY

t25G~e MALFUNCTION OF ILLUMINATNG ROUND COULD PRODUCE A

-RILLIANT FALLING LIGHT FROM ALTITUDES AS HGH AS @a; FEET;
HOWEVER, NO 4IGH ALTITUDE TRAILS OR JET EXHAUSTS WOUD, 3E
PRODUCED,

3T
2
-

, CIN 229659 ASCIN@4E4@2-233-E 2492 31 1956 Jad 1 1955 L5MM iad 31

1556 2479 31 1856 soa Cumnanh Must i os
21/28 52 $I AS Obama no
Enis As

AFOIN-4E4, Subj: Review and Analysis - UFO Photo

TO: AFOIN-454 FROM: AFOIN-4D2 DATE: 21 Mar Sac ONMENT NR 3
: AFOJ N-4D2a/Ma.¥i Willner/pam

52173/B263/Rm B86 S

1. In reply to request, the following answers are given to questions
Stated in par 7.b, basic DF:

a. Question 1. Object cannot be identified from photograph.
Cause of the apparent “trail” is unknown. (UNCL)

b. Question 2. No calculations of length of "trail" were made
because of lack of reference points, Description of size of phenomenon,
distances involved and relationship of trajectories should be further
Clarified, i.e., size of a grapefruit at arms length, at 10 feet, a

definite distance, (UNCL) Be ee

c. Question 3, The original negative should be obtained for
Dhysical inspection and controlled density printing, Additional prints
may reveal details not shown on the single print, (UNCL)

qd. Camera information (focal length, shutter setting, negative

Size) should be obtained, Duration of the exposure shopld be known in
Order to determine if “trail” is the result of an obj in motion or a

definite trail, (UNCL) >
Le

2 Incls WILBER PRICE, J
n/c AFOIN-4D2 Va

SUBJ: Review and Analysis - UFO Photo

THRU: AFOIN-4D2a FROM: AFOIN-4F3 DATE: 15 Mar 57 COMMENT gR 2
Major Willner AFOIN“4F3e/vim Mlec#kGAjs
TO: AFOIN@4E4 54186/Bldg 263/Rm Al2

i ae reply to your request AFOIN-4F3 submitts the following in answer to
questions 1, 2 and 3, respectively:

a. Question No. 1

(1) At first appearance the indication on the photograph does resemble
the characteristic "zig-zag" vapor trail that is usually created
by a ballistic missile during its ascent. However, vapor trails

of this type appear rather suddenly and appear only in a specific
strata which depends on the weather condition of the atmosphere —

at that time. This strata may lie between 20,000 — 45,000 feet.
This trail is dispersed into its characteristic form in a matter
of seconds; within minutes it is diffused into an unrecognizable

form.

(2) Ballistic missiles, and on some occasions surface-to-air missiles,
are expected to create vapor trails such as described above. The
time of powered flight of these missiles is measured in seconds

and any hovering or rapid dynamic gyrations are not to be expected.

(3) Cruise missiles which might be seen at the altitudes reported
would, during the period of observation, cover a range between
600 — 1200 nautical miles and could not be tracked by an observer

for the entire veriod.

(4) The opinion of this office is that the object as described is not
a missile or amy rocket propelled type device. The object or
phenomena cannot be identified by AFOIN-4F3c.

be Suestion No. 2

(1) There are no missile launching sites in the area where the object
was observed.

c. Muestion No. 3

There is no knowledge of any missile firings which have departed from the
test range area at the time described by source.

Zz. The contents of this comment are classified CONFIDENTIAL,

~—.

~

Pe /

_

Melba

2 Incls tg JAMES C. MANATT

n/c Lt Colonel, USAF
. AFOIN=4F3

T57-4120

.
“

“T hive CASE dNclides

Tw 0 £2, “ule” x “ ae Chores
aud one C4) NEWS paper

Chipping : |

eer -_

iF : ——

a
7

/ — 6 ~. ‘ ino : ; y >
‘ Flo é i Di st Osi, Carawell AY B, rexes, aD re _* J ~@2d Fs — °
Unidentifabls Flying Cbhjects (UE )

' {ae phenaorhenon appeared to be : @ size of a grapeir:
in brilliance equal to the ignition jf proaphorus, giving #

bears of Li ghce ooth above. and belc + the phenomenon itself, Ya
60th S@ames siz multaneockuly, Ar er times, a faint tra
varying ita sition on the phen orien waa observed. The ob

appeal red to be #: tremely nA YI g2> im, indamucAa as lf SHpesaTrec is
various places in the cloud formz ion, The object was observed
intercuitently by. and his ~ife between Amarillo and Memphis,
ante ba ei that they eparted Amarillo at 0400 hours and
rrived in Memphis at 0615 hours, Q@@@MBBPfurther related the second
< Falacieee appeared 10 to 20 feet irom the firat trajgetory. Accord
ing to the cloud formation: was moving tapidiy and upon his
arrival at Memphis, Texas, the f irmation had begun to disintegrs

t

As daylight approached, the phencmenon app« ared to Ge AsceuCcing

the heavens, where it wae the app toximate size of a star and no ls
visible through the clouds, but vi:jihle outside the cloud formation,
During the tes {2} houra and fifteen (3) minutes that the phenomenon

ee” eee .
met Powrswe eee ee ee =e er

was coaervec, GRP eS: vised tha Jas if moved to the open spaces within
2 ‘phase

oe ee ee

the ‘cloud formation, itz brilliance Wo ald iiluminat

GO EE OE SOLE nthe

2
‘im the ctoud gtructure. 2S if proc Seded through the

ese deeb" + ers

posit ee ouLrer extremities, me wius "nl Was visiDse Wi
74 f

structure. QQRBBIR 2 Works warh: Bomber Pilot, wt y ty
aircrait, with the Highth Air Foré+, advised that in his

aircraft, weather conditions, ete se rc

paranple with this phencrmerston.

7
A, > "OTD yra DA +f ins tah wo ak we. oot bet > oo re Le. ty tit

2,
7
Ko dal 520 Cant: PIA in ata ened a ’ tr imc} OSur a. oie by -

he would retain trae ee ol 1woOgTa. pn 24
. - ,_ -** P 4 2
he uld cooperate with | USAS outhoriti«s in any
Re Lhe adove information vac furnished the .

This information is torwarded for your approprizte &
;. eR Sf b ae . all - J |

se with paragréaoch 3 , APR 2, dated 12 August i '
‘ |

i

2 ~~
207 vr’

DF, Cmt #1, to AFOIN-4F3, AFOIN-4D2a (In Turn), 15 Feb 57, Subject: Review
and Analysis - UFO Photo

(3) Possibility of object being fuzz*“lint’or some similar

object cleverly photographed against a dark background,

i.e., a hoax.
(4) Other pertinent remarks or:calculations for entry into

UFO File.
2 Incls ye Rl G

1. Cy ltr, undtd, AFOIN-4E4
UFO Rpt (156=30383-1)

2. 1 env containing
photos

TELEPHONE

op Tee OT rrr ny

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
ENGINEERING RESEARCH INSTITUTE

ADDRESS REPLY TO:

2947

13 December 1957

Department of the Air Force
Director of Intelligence

Washington 25, D. C.
Dear Sir:

Enclosed is a clipping from our local newspaper regarding the
appearance of radiation vapor recently seen in Amarillo, Texas.

A faculty member has taken issue with this photograph. He feels
chat in view of the many verfect cubes and further since the photographer
is a lapidarist, he is of the opinion that it is a trick photograph made
with stones or with a lavaliere. The information is volunteered as an ef-
fort to assist the Air Force in this tnvestigation and further to prevent
lost time in pursuing false leads.

Sincerely yours,

Josenn J. Keeley
University Research
Security Officer

jdA3EJ
[Enclosure

~~

ee eee Pe oe eee te ee A ee et A _

cee sii ee nei ai eee —

Dallas Morning News printed a photograph,
Y an object seen near Amarillo,

trail left

Information Onl

J. Ge Kirby and his fenily.

Se ee

ae

2 August 1956
Amarillo, Texas

a A a") " - if
pe . on |

Cory rags

Photo. Of Strange Sky Obje’ a

“DALLAS,” Nove” ee
The Dallas Morning News
carried a picture today of a
- Strange light a former bomb-
er pilot said he. took over
west Texas a year ago.

J. G.. Kirby, a Dallas rare
rocks and gem expert, said
he took the picture near
Amarillo at 4 a.m.

_ 1936, e said the picture and

were held up by the

.FBI and Air Force authari-
ties unti] a few days aga.

_ Kirby, a B17 pilot in World

‘War IZ, told the News he and

his wife and two children

|

!

|

Tock hunting expedition. ,.

sea at. hy

spotted. the: light, while. on
He said he snapped the pid ‘
ture with a small camera
called the FBI on his re
to: Dallas.~

He said he had a visit
an agent who studied the pic-
ture and conferred withfau- .
thorities at nearby Hegsiey
Field. ~

He said authorities tol@ him
only recently he no [gnger .
had to keep the photo%tand .
story quiet. Kirby said the
Air Force theorized the glo
was radiation vapor.

On November 5th, the

taken August 2nd, 1956, of a zig-zag
Texas by Dallas rock and gem collector

—_—— _

”
= = > &.21_ ie

( (
AEROSPACE TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ria 5
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE \ |

OHIO ft er
REPLY TO) + : | a SD
atm or: = APC TN=€YE2. oy iy go”
susect: Request for UFO Information (Mr Richard Levine) 29 APR 1960

to: SAFOT=3d (Maj Tacker)

1. The following are suggested answers to the questions penned by
‘Mir Levine in the attached letter:

a. It must be assumed that tne much publicized Washington radar
' sighting of 19 July 1952, is the one in question. This case was deter-
mined to be targets caused by a temperature inversion.

b. There is no record in the Air Force files of a sighting at
Kinross AFB on 23 November 1953. The Kinross case, as outlined in
several books and other publications on UFO's, states that an aircraft
was carried away by an unidentified flying object. There is no case
in the files which even closely ovarallels these circumstances.

_-2 ¢, The objects on the film taken at Tremonton, Utah on 2 July 1952,
were determined to be birds, probacly sea gulls,

d. The Air Force file carries no conclusion on the photograph taken
vy > ei near Amarillo, iexas on 2 August 1956. Not knowing
what radiation vapor is, it is tne Air Force ooinion that some spokes-
man at the time speculated that the object was an irradiated vapor trial
and was misquoted.

_— ee Eee =

Ty hh.

ee The Air Yorce is not eware of any release date for the photo-=
sraph taken by !ir @@gg—. The original was in the hands of the owner
and he was free to do with it as he pleased.

deepens

ff. Air Force experience has been that there is no increase in
radiation due to unidentified flying objects. It should be understood
that the normal ctackground for any area may fluctuate a few hundredths
of a milliroentgen, this is considered normal and constitutes no danger
whatsoever.

g. The Air Force is not aware of any statement, official or other-
wise, by a government agency to the effect that UFO's are space ships.

nh. The Air Force nas no specific_knowledge of infrared tracking of
unidentified flying objects. :

i. The Air Force file contains no record of a report at Jsarber's
Point, Pearl Harbor on 6 August 1953, in fact, no report from Hawaii

for the entire month of August 1953.

j- For the most part, information concerning UO reports is avail-
able to the public, but due to required classification, some are not.
It is the Air Force opinion that the best answer is contained in the
Question itseir. These sightings are intelligence reports, and as such,
in certain instances contain# other information apart from the UFO por-

tion which may require classification.

k. The Air Force is open minded on the subject of space travel, and
aware that space visitors are a possibility. The present Air Force posi-
tion is not to deny this possibility, but rather to state that to date

\ no evidence has been discovered to substantiate that UFO's are inter-

planetary or interstellar space ships.

/ 1. No lunar exploration, telescopic or space probe, has revealed
i any additional information concerning UFO's.

ae ie

2. Mr. Levine's address is as follows:

Mr Richard Levine
1362 Van Duyn Place
Teaneck, N. de

FOR THE COMMANDER=

C Ahrehnlln, Fi |

PHTLIP G. EVANS 1 Atchs |
Colonel, USAF . Cy ltr 17 Mar 60 fr Richard Levine
Denuty for Sciences and Components